From the collection of the Norris Museum
St Ives in Cambridgeshire |
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HOME > River Festival >
A few notes about the River Great Ouse and the part it has
played in the creation and development of the town of St Ives – or Slepe, as it
was called in ancient times.
The river travels approximately 160 miles as it meanders from the tiny brook at
Brackley in Northamptonshire to King’s Lynn and the sea, but St Ives is the last
town the river flows through before reaching the village of Earith, 7 miles
downstream, to the start of the Bedford ‘levels’ as they are known hereabouts or
to give them their official titles The Old and New Bedford Rivers, these change
the character and flow of the river from then on. The river is joined along the
way by the Cam as it flows through the fens to Denver where it reaches the
sluices at the other end of the ‘levels’ where the waters from Earith now rejoin
the river as it makes its way out to sea via King’s Lynn and the Wash.
In ancient times St Ives was the furthest point inland that the was easily
navigable by sea-going vessels, it was this factor that made its ancient
international markets and fairs so important – these events brought wealth and
prosperity to the town and Ramsey Abbey who had inherited the right to collect
tolls for using the bridge to cross the river and the mooring fees. The abbots
also erected the stalls and booths used by the traders and merchants generating
more revenue for the Abbey at Ramsey.
The abbey had inherited the township of Slepe from Alfwen, the daughter of
Aethelstan Mannesane way back in time; King Edgar confirmed this gift to the
abbey with a charter back in the 900’s. Abbot Ednoth thought to increase the
popularity and income of the town so he acquired the bones of Saint Ive, a
Bishop from Persia, and brought them to Slepe so that pilgrims could visit his
saintly remains – which supposedly had healing properties – he set up a small
outpost of the Abbey of Ramsey at Slepe to oversee this activity which was
dedicated to St Ive.
It was these saintly remains combined with the navigable river that began the
creation of St Ives as a town, Edward the Confessor granted the abbey the right
to hold a fair in Easter week and so the importance of the town was assured.
This tradition of markets and fairs continues to this day, Monday and Friday are
still market day in the town, and when the Bank Holiday falls on a Monday
traders from far and wide descend upon the town to ply their ware, taking over
all the town centre, at the end of August 2007 this great market will coincide
with the Inland Waterways Association National Festival and Boat Show, the river
still bringing traders and merchants to the town of St Ives.
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From the collection of the Norris Museum |
This picture shows the great Hemingford Meadow on the left, opposite bank of
the Ouse to St Ives, this is a flood plain, and in the dryer months grazing for
local livestock, sheep can still be seen on it the summer months. In August 2007
the Inland Waterways Association National Festival and Boat Show will be based
on this site.
You can just make out the horse and rider on the Hemingford Meadow; they appear
to be towing the boat into the cut.
The spire is of the Parish Church of All Saints, which Cromwell attended when
living in the town his name appearing in early church documents. The current
spire had to be repaired when an airman taking off from the Hemingford Meadow
crashed into the spire in 1918 the airplane and pilot both crashing through the
church roof.
At the bottom of the picture can be seen a small boat dragging a fishing net,
although this practice in not done now, you will come across people fishing on
the town bank of the river among the moored boats.
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From the collection of the Norris Museum |
This picture shows the combination of river as work and pleasure. On the left
can be seen buildings from the towns working history with access to the river
and a covered boatshed. On the right nestling into the banks of Hemingford
meadow is a punt, the local pleasure boat, in this instance propelled by oars,
but in time gone by you could hire punts which were moved by a quant, a single
pole which also acts as the rudder, this past-time is still prevalent in
Cambridge where you can hire boats to have a go yourself, or a student will do
the punting for you.
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From the collection of the Norris Museum |
The town bank seen here shows its working history with functional buildings from
times gone by; as you can less emphasis is made on accessing the river from the
various buildings in this shot. You can just make out in the foreground the
wooden bank re-enforcements and the large mooring post which would have secured
vessels far larger than the small sailing pleasure craft, remnants of a time
when the river was a place of work for many people.
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From the collection of the Norris Museum |
The view from Hemingford Meadow, the site of the August 2007 the Inland
Waterways Association National Festival and Boat Show, looking across to The
Waits and Holt Island, The Waits was literally where boats waited; Holt Island
is now a nature reserve.
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From the collection of the Norris Museum |
This picture shows the osier beds on Holt Island being harvested for their reed,
a hardwearing thatch for local buildings, reeds are longer and harder than wheat
straw, and it is still harvested in parts of Norfolk for Thatcher's today.
Holt Island is now a nature reserve. Follow this link for more information about
Fenland Thatch
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From the collection of the St Ives Town Web |
This picture shows The Waits in decline, this was once a busy part of town for
boats mooring while ‘waiting’ to continue their journey. Since this picture was
taken the foreground has been built up, during 2006/7 flood defences were
installed along this part of the river bank. It is a pleasant spot with flower
beds and on some Sunday afternoons in the summer bands play here.
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From the collection of the St Ives Town Web |
This is the view that you would have had from Hemingford Meadow back in the 1920’s, the top two stories of the chapel have been removed since this picture was taken. The three gabled building on the left of the bridge is still standing but is now a tea shop.
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From the collection of the St Ives Town Web |
This is a view of the village of Hemingford Grey as seen in the 1940’s, an
interesting village to visit, its church lost its steeple when it toppled into
the river in the 18th century, its Manor House is one of the oldest continually
inhabited homes in England.
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From the collection of the St Ives Town Web |
This is Hemingford Abbots as painted in the early 1900’s a charming village of thatch cottages which still holds an annual flower festival and rowing regatta each summer.
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From the collection of the St Ives Town Web |
And finally this is a picture of Houghton Mill painted in the early 1900’s, it was the last working mill on the River Ouse, now managed by the National Trust the mill is still in working order producing flour for sale when open.
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This website is part of the British Towns Network |
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Page last updated 24/07/08 Copyright 2001-2008© JevStar.Com (JevStar™) |
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